To expand the floor space I added a floor of heavy chipboard, which I expanded to allow for the door and window wall. The walls were later reinforced with extra chipboard as well.

In order to know just how much space was needed, I did a lay-out preview to see how the different parts would fit together.

Then I cut the walls and ceiling accordingly and taped it all up to make sure this would work. These would not be permanently joined together until later. I learned the hard way to plan each step and take my time about when to "nail" things down.

For example: The wires for the lights has to go behind the paper on the walls or floor ​
before the paper is glued down. And since the batteries would be hidden behind the corner wall, I had to make sure the wires would reach and get everything in place before the wall could be glued into place.

The lights were very important in this room box. I wanted to create a warm and welcome space. The window and shelf candle were made using plastic tubes that are on the end of new paint brushes. These hollow tubes were perfect for candles!

I cut them to the length I needed, then coated them with crayon wax. The light wire was run down through the candle. I used an awl to poke a hole in the center of a pendant which I thought would make a good candle holder. The wires would go down through the shelf, then behind the wallpaper and to the battery holder. The candles on the chandelier were not coated with wax. Instead I painted the outside of the tube with ivory white.

The lamps were made of the items in the photo below. I made two of these. One for the table and the other is on the mantle. The micro beads covered the wire in the tube.

The fireplace is my pride and joy. I know there are kits and pre-made fireplaces but I wanted to make mine from scratch. I took the flickering light out of a tea light and wired it up with an additional bulb, then to the battery pack. This made my light flicker just like a crackling fire. I wish I could put a video here so you can see the flickering light.

To make the "flames" I first molded individual flames out of paper clay. Then I made a mold with them. After it was ready, I poured melted Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel™ (from Ranger) into the mold to make transparent flames (colored amber with some red sprinkles).

Then I made logs from paper clay and painted them. When the flames and logs were ready, I assembled the group by melting the edges of the flames using a crafting iron. The lights would come up through a hole in the floor and they fit into a hollowed out space I melted in the back of the flames.

The batteries are hidden away inside a door in the back wall. Two switches are under the door and two are inside the removable fireplace chimney. There is also a music box hidden in the fireplace wall. It plays "Have Yourself a Merry Christmas". The lights, music, soft warm colors and the meaning behind the work make it my favorite room box yet.

Note: The photo above was taken before the wood base was added.

The tree was another crafted item. As you can see, it is not the smaller one shown in the preliminary fitting-out for the scene. I began with a slightly bigger bottlebrush tree. Then I attached dried “princess pine” to fill it out to look more natural.

The last structural addition to the room box was the little entrance porch roof. It was needed to visually round out the look I was after.

Most of all, I put my heart into it. There is a sense of peace in the cozy little hearth-side with the old fashioned tree, candlelights, and antique lamps. Books, coffee, and the basket of yarn ready for an evening of knitting by the fireside.... all makes me think the oven has some cookies just about ready, and the music reminds us that the family will soon be Home for Christmas.